On July 30, the Israeli Defense Forces killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, where he was attending the swearing-in of Iranian President-elect Pezeshkian. Iran`s Revolutionary Guards confirmed Haniyeh’s death and are investigating. Hamas condemned the killing as a “heinous terrorist crime” and vowed to continue fighting Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also denounced the killing. Haniyeh was a key figure in Hamas` international efforts and military build-up. Russia criticized the killing as an “absolutely unacceptable political murder” and warned it could harm ceasefire talks in Gaza. Russian President Putin also criticized the U.S. for not supporting an independent Palestinian state.